The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-06-30
Prohibition and Taxes,

, OZ, 03Z. Inc taxes from Tue IL
quor business, wholesale and retail,
for the same time, were Sal, 744.-
"a. The comptroller report does
not show what the cost of prosecu-
ting misdemeanors was to the coun
ties, but | am informed that the
cost to Davidson county was about
Two and a half times as much as
the cost of state prosecutions Of fel
onies in the county, and l assume
the same is true in other counties.
This would make the cost of prose
cutting crime to the state and coun
ties close to 100000, not including
the cost 10 cities and towns. If
the counties got the same revenue
from liquor licenses as the state,
which they, however, do not, would
1t not nearly pay the criminal pros
ecutions? If there be any merit in
the argument that prohibition will
destroy business and the value of
property will destroy business and
the yalne of property will increase
taxes, Shelby county is entitled to
the credit, as / am informed the
argument was first promulgated by
her able senators IN the last legisla-
ture and that other distinguished
gentlemen making the argument are
only repeating second hand what
they heard from these representa-
tives of the thriving county of Shell
by. AS the arg lment comes fsOm
Shelby it is proper to try her by it,
Davidson and Shelby counties, con
tanning the two largest cities in the
state, are rivals for supremacy.
They are nearly equal in popula
ton. Shelby claims the larger pop
ulation, both in the city and coun-
ty, and it has the larger representa-
zion in the legislature and receives
a larger school fund from the state,
which is paid according to popula-
zion. SO Shelby is conceded the
larger population. 1t has 1861
more acres of land than Davidson.
Memphis has advantages not pos
sessed by Nashville, as business
point. 1t is situated upon the banks
of that great river that bears upon
its bosom the commerce OF the rich
est part of the world. 1t has about
all the railroad facilities needed
1t is said to be surrounded by {
country almost as fertile as ancient
Egypt. Its trade area IS the soutl
and southwest. Nashville has one
little river, navigable about hal
the year, and railroads leaving tn,
city in six directions, but practi
cally under one management. Shell
by county and Memphis are under
stood to be favorable to the whisky
business and opposed to prohibition
while the contrary is understood tt
be trne of Nashville and Davidson
county. Shelby contributed tn
only two votes in the state senat'
that were cast against the prohibi
ton amendment, and of the four o
tive votes in the house against ii
all but one came from Shelby coun
ty. In further proof that Shelf,
county is favorable to whisky, i
paid to the state for tipping liceus
last year $33, Ol6.0O, while Davidson
only paid $26,01O40, or a fourth
less. 1t must be little unpleasant
to Shelby countians though, that j
cost the state to prosecute crime il
that country last year $18,756. %
while in Davidson it cost only $l2
| 1885, or third less. The fgurei
| look little like whisky and crimt
| go together. Another item in tht
comptroller's report confirms thi
appearance. The state derives
small revenue from what is callet
the small of'ense law. That is Law
under which persons charged witt
crimes not punishable by ia prison
ment in the penitentiary may plead
guilty before a magistrate and pay
q small fine. The fine goes to th'
county, but the state assesses q ta1
of 81 or SD in each of such cases
The citizens Of Shelby county paiC
to the state as taxes on sDch case
last year 81, 22t.0O, while the citi-
zens Of Davidson only paid 1852 90
al! the state of Tennessee only paiC
| f4,7IS.S5; outside Of Shelby county
$2,497.S5. Now, let US take lool
at the relative value of property il
the two counties as disclosed by
the comptroller's figures. Shelby
county has 446,67S acres Of land
Davidson county has only 307, OF,
acres; the former more than the lat
ter l39, COB acres. Davidson's 3O7,
90 acres, though, are valued a
81, 277,723 more than Shelby's AT,
67S acres. Town lots in Davidson
we're valued at SD, 584, 5I4 more thai
in Shelby, and this was last year be
fore the boom, too. Other taxable
were valued at $5,550,SS4 more il
Davidson than in Shelby, and tn
total valuation Of property was $40,
4l3,l2l more in Davidson count,
than in Shelby, Davidson paid
property tax of SOL ,037SS, whiI
Shelby only paid $59,79S.54, o.
$3l, 237.34 in favor of Davidson
In business the two counties com
pare thus; We have already see
that in tipping Shelby is ava,
ahead of Davidson. Merchants an,
grocers, other than whisky, in Da
wilson paid to the state in priviIeg
taxes $29,445.4I; in Shelby the,
paid SIS, 1858. Davidson, there
fore, does more than one and hal
times as much business in thes
! lines as Shelby. The butchers il
5 Davidson county paid a privileg
, tax of SO, 537.13. In Shelby county
} $2,742. 1t would seem that She
by's population drink more but ca
E less than Davidson's and the latte
are not gluttons either. From q
sources Davidson county paid int
the state treasury $166, OBS 6
t Shelby $122, 1924; Davidson MOI
G than Shelby, $43,2S0, Taxes O
+ railroads, telegraph and expires
S companies, are paid directly to til
- state and are not apportioned to I'll
0 the counties and are not in
- Guided in the above. Gentleme
{ who have been repeating the Shelb
L l. a